This is one of the most iconic quotes from Linus Torvalds, the creator of the famous and beloved Linux kernel. I remember the first time I read this phrase—it felt simply wonderful and left a lasting impression on me.
Talk is cheap. Show me the code.
Linus Torvalds understood something fundamental about human nature: our tendency to get lost in abstraction and endless planning without taking action.
In my life, I’ve adopted this phrase as a guide when I feel overwhelmed by overplanning my side projects. It reminds me that the best way to move forward is to create something—anything—even if it’s imperfect. This approach isn’t exclusive to software development; it’s how many successful startups come to life. They build an MVP, verify it works, and only then dive into more thorough planning.
